Injured Marshfield firefighter dies

A Marshfield firefighter who was severely injured after he was trapped in a burning home a week ago died today, an official said.

Lt. Matthew Blankenship, 38, died at 4:35 a.m. today in the burn center of Mercy Hospital Springfield, according to the Marshfield fire department. He had suffered burns over a large percentage of his body.

Blankenship was trapped in a house fire July 13 in Niangua. Shawn Ricks, the Niangua fire chief, was also injured but has been released from Mercy. Marshfield Lt. James Lannan was also trapped but managed to escape with minor injuries.

"A situation about 30 minutes into the fire occurred that changed the conditions," said Marshfield Fire Chief Michael Taylor.

Taylor said Blankenship's death is the first fatality in the history of the Marshfield fire department, which is volunteer. Blankenship, a mechanic at Peterbilt in Springfield, is survived by his wife and three children.

Taylor said information about the funeral arrangements will be sent out as it becomes available.

Ricks said he was treated for smoke inhalation after he went in the house without a breathing apparatus to try to rescue Blankenship. He was discharged from Mercy on Sunday.

Since 1998, 19 firefighters have died in Missouri, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least five of the incidents involved volunteer firefighters. The most recent previous firefighter fatality was in September 2011.

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Injured Marshfield firefighter dies

A Marshfield firefighter who was severely injured after he was trapped in a burning home a week ago died today, an official said.